jonfrohnen Posted September 11 Report Share Posted September 11 I found this interesting device mixed in with my mutes, can someone here shed light on what this would be used for? Stamped a few places "CJ Edlavitch" as well as abbreviated Patent Applied For. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiddlecollector Posted September 11 Report Share Posted September 11 Edlavitch was a violinmaker of Lithuanian decent living in Baltimore. He also patented an attachment for for hat pins,which doesnt quite look like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwight Brown Posted September 11 Report Share Posted September 11 EDLAVITCH, Charles J. Born 1874 Jonàva Lithuania, d.c.1930 Baltimore, Maryland USA. Pupil of Y. Tefira in Jonàva. Active from 1890. Emigrated to the USA 1900. Established in Baltimore. Highly professional and prolific work on classical Cremonese modelling with distinctive Bohemian touches. Hard darkly coloured varnish. Credited with 400 violins, 20 violas, and 28 cellos. Chas. J. Edlavitch / Baltimore... - John Dilworth DLB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blockhead Posted September 11 Report Share Posted September 11 Maybe it looks like it might be designed to go over the d string with the leather pads against the back of the bridge, applying progressive damping to the 3 lower strings as it was pressed lower. That would make the assymetrical geometry and arc of the handle conform to the bridge crest. From the instruments offered for sale that show up with a search, Charles Edlavitsch wasn't exactly an amateur. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iburkard Posted September 11 Report Share Posted September 11 The small slit could be for a jeweler style saw blade? The leather pads look like slip prevention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Mark Posted September 12 Report Share Posted September 12 5 hours ago, iburkard said: The small slit could be for a jeweler style saw blade? The leather pads look like slip prevention. Along those lines, maybe a template for sawing the circular end holes in f-holes. Is the cut-out the right size for that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonfrohnen Posted September 13 Author Report Share Posted September 13 Dr. Mark, the diameter is about 14mm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonfrohnen Posted September 13 Author Report Share Posted September 13 I found yet another, this time leather with smaller diameter hole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iburkard Posted September 22 Report Share Posted September 22 No one else is going to guess? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeC Posted September 23 Report Share Posted September 23 I'm curious to know. Some kind of mute maybe? Patent applied for but you don't see a patent number on it? Since the wood one has a leather pad that makes me think it was meant to be in contact with some part of the instrument that you don't want to get scratched. What about slide it down on the D or A string with the slot on the string behind the bridge, would it work as a mute? Or in front of the bridge maybe? The big hole in the wood one though doesn't make sense. Maybe it's a sight so you can see the bow better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeH Posted September 23 Report Share Posted September 23 Perhaps it has nothing at all to do with violins or bows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.